Sunday Songs (18)

This week I'm show casing a new song from a favorite group of mine.

It's called Never Let Me Go by Florence + The Machine

I just adore her and her songs always give me chills.

Enjoy!

Review: Cloaked

Cloaked by Alex Flinn
Publication Date: February 8th 2011
Genre: YA Fantasy
Pages: 337
Goodreads

Summary

I’m not your average hero. I actually wasn’t your average anything. Just a poor guy working an after-school job at a South Beach shoe repair shop to help his mom make ends meet. But a little magic changed it all.

It all started with the curse. And the frognapping. And one hot-looking princess, who asked me to lead a rescue mission.

There wasn’t a fairy godmother or any of that. And even though I fell in love along the way, what happened to me is unlike any fairy tale I’ve ever heard. Before I knew it, I was spying with a flock of enchanted swans, talking (yes, talking!) to a fox named Todd, and nearly trampled by giants in the Everglades.

Don’t believe me? I didn’t believe it either. But you’ll see. Because I knew it all was true, the second I got CLOAKED.

 

 

 

So, this was an okay book for me. Most definitely not as good as her last two fairy tales I have read from her, Beastly and A kiss in Time, those were true swoon worthy fairy tales.

 

Now I read the authors note in the back of the book and I understand what she was doing with this book but wished she produced it better. What she was trying to do was shine light on some not so well known fairy tales. Which is fine. Actually very brave of an author to do. But the way she did it, it just didn't work for me.

 

Instead of the main character being apart of the fairytale, he was going on a quest for a princess, that landed him in helping the other fairy tales. And to tell you the truth, even when the fairy tales came into the picture, I didn't feel the magic. Yes, there was magic. I loved the magic cloak that could take you anywhere if you thought it. But the rest was kind of so-so. It wasn't very strong for us to see.

 

I just wish she took one of those not so known fairy tales and just wrote a whole book to it. That way we could feel the true magic that she felt when she read the original. Yes, this book pulled me in sometimes but then it would drag and honestly, I can't believe I finished it. Half the time I said I was going to stop because it just wasn't hitting the spot for me.

 

Plus, there were a few issues. 1.) slightly in the beginning the princess said this certain thing would mean yes but then the boy would say the same certain thing would mean no. Did she forget what she wrote in the first place? 2.) sometimes detail would be left out. Often I would have to go back and see if she explained on how he got in this certain place, but I never found it. So, sometimes I would get confused.   

 

With all her other fairy tales there of course is a romance getting ready to form. Right off the bat I knew whom he would end up with. It was no brainier. However, it wasn't breath taking. I like to go weak at the knees and have a hope that they'll get together but....I didn't get that with this one. I did love this certain one part but that was it. None other. Which was sad because, like I said, I just loved her other two swoon worthy fairy tales.

 

Overall, this was just a blah book. If you want a real faint, heart pounding romance worthy with loads of magic read then you should check out Beastly & A Kiss in Time.

 

There were a few twist and turns in here that held me to finishing it but don't expect a whole lot. Also, throughtout this whole book I felt like this was a rush job. You know the seasonally type writers that have to get out a certain quota. My rating- 2 hearts.

 

 

So-So read.....borrow from the library

To see where this falls under in my 2012 challenges then click here.

Happy Reading Everybody!

 

Review: Intertwined

Intertwined (Intertwined #1) by Gena Showalter
Publication Date: September 1, 2009
Genre: YA Fantasy Paranormal
Pages: 440

Summary

There’s something about the new guy at Crossroads High…

Most sixteen-year-olds have friends. Aden Stone has four human souls living inside him:

One can time travel.
One can raise the dead.
One can possess another human.
One can tell the future.

Everyone thinks he’s crazy, which is why he’s spent his entire life shuffled between mental institutions and juvie. All of that is about to change, however. For months Aden has been having visions of a beautiful girl—a girl who carries centuries-old secrets. A girl who will either save him or destroy him.

Together they’ll enter a dark world of intrigue and danger... but not everyone will come out alive.

When I first started reading the book I wasn't so thrilled. But the farther I read the more it grew on me.

There was nothing slow and gentle about it, as she done to Aden. She dug her fangs deep, hitting tendon. The man's body jerked, his muscles spasmed.

I read some really good reviews about this book and read some really bad ones, too. So I was a little wary about reading it. And at first, I thought the bad reviews were right. It doesn't hook you  right away, and you're left wondering where the book was going. But as you read on it gets better. The characters start to develop and so does the plot. And when the book is through, you want to read the next one.

As I stated above, the characters developed pretty well through the book. The character that developed the most, in my mind, was Mary Ann. She starts out as a high school student with a fifteen year plan and ends up learning about the paranormal and dating a werewolf, Riley. Aden, the main character, wasn't as likable as the voices in his head were. My favorite being Eve.

I would happily recommend this book for many reasons. It has a good plot and characters that develop well. It's a good read.

Daring You To Read (19)......Forgive My FIns

Daring You To Read is a brand new meme by Tynga's Reviews. Is where you choose a book you’ve read, loved and would dare your readers to read! The book you choose must be an older release (at least 6 months ago), because let’s be honest, we’re all quite aware of the latest releases

Forgive My Fins (Fins #1) by Tera Lnn Child
Publication Date: May 19th 2010
Genre: YA Fantasy
Pages: 293
Goodreads

Summary

Lily Sanderson has a secret, and it’s not that she has a huge crush on gorgeous swimming god Brody Bennett, who makes her heart beat flipper-fast. Unrequited love is hard enough when you’re a normal teenage girl, but when you’re half human, half mermaid like Lily, there’s no such thing as a simple crush.

Lily’s mermaid identity is a secret that can’t get out, since she’s not just any mermaid – she’s a Thalassinian princess. When Lily found out three years ago that her mother was actually a human, she finally realized why she didn’t feel quite at home in Thalassinia, and she’s been living on land and going to Seaview high school ever since, hoping to find where she truly belongs. Sure, land has its problems – like her obnoxious, biker boy neighbor Quince Fletcher – but it has that one major perk – Brody. The problem is, mermaids aren’t really the casual dating type – when they “bond,” it’s for life.

When Lily’s attempt to win Brody’s love leads to a tsunami-sized case of mistaken identity, she is in for a tidal wave of relationship drama, and she finds out, quick as a tailfin flick, that happily-ever-after never sails quite as smoothly as you planned.



This was one refreshing read. I loved it to the ends of the world. Omg, amazing. Ms. Childs created my fantasy world. It's always been a dream of mine to become a real life mermaid and she made it happen.

I was sucked in by the world building and the sweet characters she created for all of us to fall in love with and fall I did. Lily with her silly but enticing fishy terminology and Brody with his sweet personality, a guy you just hope that'll sweep you off your own feet one day.

Plus, the fun little extras you get in the back of the book. Even get a recipe for Mermaid Cupcakes. They were fun to make. :)

If you just love mermaids or fantasy with sweet romances then this is a must read.

If you want to know more of what I loved about this pearl then check out my review here.

 

Daring is the game, I've dared you now it's your time to dare me.

Leave a comment-no matter if you take place in this meme or not- I would love to hear what you have to say! :) 

Happy Reading Everybody!

Review: Prophet

Prophet (Struck #0.5) by Jennifer Bosworth
Publication Date: April 25, 2012
Genre: YA
Pages: 24
Goodreads

Summary

In Prophet, Rance Ridley, the teenage son of a cult leader, lives on an isolated compound, disconnected from modern civilization. There is no running water. No electricity. And no law but the Prophet's. When Rance is caught in an act of flagrant disobedience, his father delivers the ultimate punishment, and Rance is set on a course that will change everything.

Prophet is a disturbing glimpse into the past of the villain of Jennifer Bosworth’s debut novel, Struck.

Ohmigod, this short is 100% creepy.

Yep, pretty much sums it up but since I'm a good reviewer I'll give you a little bit more.

I just saw the trailer for Struck and the guy in white totally gave me the chills. This book is no different and this is the story of how he came to be. All I can say is......wow. Just pure awesomeness!

And that ending. Just blew my mind. *shudders*

If you can't wait for Struck to come out then I most definitely recommend you guys read this. Really anyone whoms into YA lit should most definitely check this out.

It all started with a little innocents but then turned into a whole lot of sins.

Happy Reading Everybody!

Waiting on Wedsenday (30)

Welcome to Waiting on Wednesday! Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event that is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine and spotlights upcoming releases we are eagerly anticipating. This week I am anxiously awaiting:

Destined (Wings #4) by Aprilynne Pike

Publication Date: May 1, 2012

Genre: YA Fantasy

Pages: 320

Summary

Laurel now knows the truth: Yuki is a rare Winter faerie, the most powerful—and deadly—of all, and she is working with Klea to conquer and destroy Avalon. With Tamani, David, and Chelsea by her side, Laurel prepares for a fight she never thought she would have to face.

Filled with heart-pounding action, sweeping romance, and higher stakes at every turn, Destined is the series conclusion that readers have been clamoring for—with a twist that will leave them breathless.

 The first two, 'Wings' and 'Spells', I really liked. The third, 'Illusions', was not as good. It was really slow. But I got to admit that the ending was really good. And I hear this one is supposed to a lot more fast paced. 

Struck (Struck #1) by Jennifer Bosworth
Publication Date: May 8, 2012
Genre: YA Dystopia 
Pages: 373
Goodreads

Summary

Mia Price is a lightning addict. She's survived countless strikes, but her craving to connect to the energy in storms endangers her life and the lives of those around her.

Los Angeles, where lightning rarely strikes, is one of the few places Mia feels safe from her addiction. But when an earthquake devastates the city, her haven is transformed into a minefield of chaos and danger. The beaches become massive tent cities. Downtown is a crumbling wasteland, where a traveling party moves to a different empty building each night, the revelers drawn to the destruction by a force they cannot deny. Two warring cults rise to power, and both see Mia as the key to their opposing doomsday prophecies. They believe she has a connection to the freak electrical storm that caused the quake, and to the far more devastating storm that is yet to come.

Mia wants to trust the enigmatic and alluring Jeremy when he promises to protect her, but she fears he isn't who he claims to be. In the end, the passion and power that brought them together could be their downfall. When the final disaster strikes, Mia must risk unleashing the full horror of her strength to save the people she loves, or lose everything.





So I was interested in the plot but when I saw the trailer for this book. Ohmigod, I sooooooo can't not wait to get my hands on this one. Totally blew my mind.

Overall, amazing and the cult in white. Can I just say.....creepy.

Enjoy!

 

What are you waiting for? Go right ahead and tell us, we would love to know. :)

Teaser Tuesday (21)

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by MizB from Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read.
• Open to a random page.
• Share (2) "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page.--BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS. Make sure that what you share doesn't give too much away. You don't want to ruin the book for others.
• Share the title & author, so others can add to their TBR list if they like your teasers.

Our Teasers This Week. . .

Aden flicked him a glance, took in his panicked expression, before turning back to Victoria. She didn't act as if she saw the ghost.

-from page 329, Intertwined

Review: Goddess of the Night

Goddess of the Night (Daughters of the Moon #1)
Publication Date: August 1, 2000
Genre: YA Fantasy
Pages: 294

Summary

Vanessa is being followed. She doesn't know by whom, and she doesn't know what they want. But she knows why.

Vanessa has a secret. She can become invisible, but the problem is, she can't control it. And her worst fear is being discovered. Only her best friend, Catty, knows, and Catty is different as well. She can travel back in time -- and take Vanessa with her.

Okay before I get to the review, is it just me or does the cover remind you more of a mermaid than a goddess?

 

She tossed the pink plastic bird aside and heaved the iron legs from the ground. The iron rods felt good in her hands.

I really liked the characters, especially Catty. She was funny, and her mom's theory of Catty being an alien just made me laugh. Vanessa, the main character, felt slightly generic. She was the pretty girl that everybody likes, that is mostly a goodie goodie. Stanton is a character that interests me. He is kinda mysterious and I could easily see as a love interest of Vanessa's.

The plot isn't bad, but the part where Vanessa finds out what she is felt kind of sudden. And I couldn't help but wish that the characters were a little more developed. I do hope Ewing address it in the next book.

Overall the book was good, and makes me want to read the next one.

   

Movie Review: The Hunger Games

I'm soooooo sorry it's taken me, Dashley, this long to look over the review Tasha wrote for this movie so I could put my two cents in but it's here now so I hope you enjoy!

Summary


In a dystopian future, the totalitarian nation of Panem is divided between 12 districts and the Capitol. Each year two young representatives from each district are selected by lottery to participate in The Hunger Games. Part entertainment, part brutal retribution for a past rebellion, the televised games are broadcast throughout Panem.

The 24 participants are forced to eliminate their competitors while the citizens of Panem are required to watch. When 16-year-old Katniss's young sister, Prim, is selected as District 12's female representative, Katniss volunteers to take her place. She and her male counterpart Peeta, are pitted against bigger, stronger representatives who have trained for this their whole lives.

In every review I have read about the movie, they said it was great and lived up to the hype. And once we saw it March 30 we couldn't agree fast enough. Which we were so happy about. <3

We both loved the book and Tasha loved the series as a whole (I on the other hand couldn't and haven't finished the third. I made it half way then it started to feel like a chore). When we first heard they were making a Hunger Games movie we just hoped they wouldn't mess it up to badly. And they didn't. The movie stayed very true to the book with only slight changes that you get with book-to-movie adaptions. Well we all know if you stay true to the book then nothing can go wrong, except for Twilight, (we've both read the books and seen the first movie, and sadly it's true to the book but the acting and boring heroine scares us away).

However, back to this movie. We both just loved how they made District 12 and the Capitol looked. They captured the poverty of District 12 from not only in the scenery but also the people. We both adored the way they expressed the craziness of the capitol and it's inhabitants. The way they dressed and their hairstyles and just the feel of it was.....amazing. I, Dashley, just loved loved, loved the way they did the makeup for the Capitol people. Me being in Makeup for Theatre, I was very interested in it. I couldn't help but feel joy.

The film makers also get an A on casting. Tasha loved most of the cast and thought that most of them fit their part perfectly. Me, I thought everyone did wonderfully and my worries went away for Jennifer when I forgot who she was and when she made me believe she was the tough Katniss we all know and love. (My worries was that, in the book, she was described a shorty like me. So, yea I didn't like it at first but I got over it. Because she did a wonderful job and now I can't picture anyone else playing the role but her.)

Now, we both hoped that Woody Harrelson would have stolen the show whenever he got his drunken self on the big screen, but he never really met those expectations. Though, yes we still love him, it's just we think he could have done better. But on another note, Effie Trinket (Elizabeth Banks) was perfect and totally stole the scenes with her over the top makeup and costumes. She was most definitely the comic relief of the movie.  Also, Caesar Flickerman (Stanley Tucci) was great, he too stole the show for us.

Katniss- [stabs knife on table]
Effie-  Hey! That is mahogany!

Plus, the careers. Omigod, they were amazing and totally acted as if they were on spring break. They really got into killing people, just like they did in the book. And I just loved Alex Ludwig. I remember when I saw him the first time in the Sandlot 3. He most definitely has turned into a handsome young man- ladies.

One of the things that was added was commentary from Caesar and a dude named Claudius (didn't pay that much attention to him though). It not only helped move the games along, it also helped explain what was happening. So people who didn't read the book knew what was going on.

Now, we could gush all day about what we liked but we're not going to waste anymore of your time because there are a few things we didn't like about this most hyped movie of the year. But don't worry, there wasn't a lot to not like. :)

One thing we didn't like was the mutations. They just looked like really big dogs. Now I, Tasha, am not saying that me or Dashley would want to face one in a dark ally, but they were not what was described in the book. They didn't have the hair color or the eye color of the fallen tributes.

We also didn't the relationship between Katniss and Peeta. (Well, really just me, Tasha. Dashley wasn't paying that close attention to it. It actually was only a small part.). It really felt like they were falling for each other. Now in most movies that would be fine, but not this one. In the book Katniss is confused by the way Peeta acts. She's not sure if it's real or just an act, and she only pretends to like him to get sponsors. That really doesn't come across well in the movie.

The last thing we're going to mention is that, in the movie, the arena doesn't feel that big. In the book, you get the feeling that the arena goes on for miles. You don't get that in the movie. Granted the filmmakers had to cut out a lot of the traveling otherwise the movie would be a lot longer and probably more boring. But still, we would've liked the arena to feel bigger.

Even with the few things we didn't like, there is still a lot of positives. And we would greatly   recommend this movie to fans of the books and to anyone who likes action. And, I, Tasha, know waiting for us to mention the violence so here you are. There is a lot of killing, but there isn't a lot of gore. The filmmakers did it so that you saw the killing blows but not all the blood, though there is a little blood.

And on a last note from me, Dashley, I totes teared up a couple of times during this movie. Once for the tribute parade, when Katniss and Peeta came riding down the walk way, covered in flames. And of course during the Rue scene. God that scene was hard for me.

Overall, we loved it and give it

In My Mailbox (16)

This weekly meme is hosted by The Story Siren

Meeting Destiny (Destiny Series - Book 1) by Nancy Straight

The next is no longer free.

The Seven by Derek Edgington

Then yesturday I bought a few magazine's.

Seventeen and Teen vogue. However Teen Vogue isn't as good as vogue and it isn't as big either.

Anyways, Happy Weekend Everybody!



Don't be shy, if you have something to say don't be afraid. Peace. :)

On My Wishlist (25)

Is a weekly book meme hosted by Cosy Books. Where we talk about the books that are currently on top of our wishlists. Old, new or yet to be released titles are all welcome.

What a Boy Wants by Nyrae Dawn

Publication Date: April 6, 2012

Genre: YA Contemporary

Goodreads

Summary

Courtesy of watching his mom’s relationships, Sebastian Hawkins knows what girls need to do to get a guy. He has what he considers a PHD in hooking up. When he needs extra cash for a car, Sebastian starts up an online venture as The Hook-up Doctor, to anonymously help girls land the guy of their dreams. Of course, his services don’t offer a happily-ever-after guarantee. He’s seen firsthand getting together never means staying together.
And then he falls in love…

With the last girl he would expect…

Totally not in his game plan.

Suddenly, Sebastian finds himself muddled in the game he’s always prided himself on. He can’t even pick up girls at parties anymore! Why would anyone want to be in love when it turns you into a stuttering, screwed-up, mess with really lame stalker tendencies? Stalking? Totally not his gig.

But the Hook-up Doctor won’t let himself go down easily. He’s always known how to give a girl what she wants and now it’s time to figure out what a boy wants… and he definitely plans on getting it.

I've never heard about this till I read a review for it from The Sweet Bookshelf. And her review made me fall in love. :)

I love that this book is in Male POV and it's about relationships. What ladies doesn't love that. We get to see what guys actually want and see that the things we think they want is actually wrong. Love!

Into the Cold Fire (Daughters of the Moon #2) by Lynne Ewing

Publication Date: August 1, 2000

Genre: YA Fantasy

Pages: 268

Summary

Serena is being targeted by the Dark Side. Her power to read minds is what they need in order to destroy the Daughters of the Moon. And Serena has always had a rebellious side to her that may not be able to resist the seductive temptation of the Dark Side -- and Stanton, their sexy, mesmerizing leader. Set in mystical desert raves and gritty L.A. streets, this second Daughters of the Moon is a provocative and powerful.

Movie Review: Monte Carlo

Summary

A young woman, her uptight step sister and her best friend use their savings for a long anticipated dream trip to Paris, which turns out to be a big disappointment. When they decide to take a break from their lousy tour and duck into the lobby of a luxury hotel, one of them is mistaken for a spoiled British heiress. Before they get the chance to reveal their true identities they are wrapped up in misadventures during a vacation to Monte Carlo instead.

Yes, the plot line sounds like The Lizzie McGuire Movie. But it is completely different, with the different sub plots of the other characters.

I fully enjoyed this movie and I got so caught up into the character's lives that I didn't know the time when it finished. I mainly wanted to see this because of Selena Gomez. She's sweet and I've been there since the beginning of her Disney career, that I couldn't wait to see her in a some what grown up movie.

The characters, the world, the dialogue was fun and of course the romances were sweet. It's one of those exciting movies that make you want to go to another country and hope someone will sweep you off your feet and change your whole world for you.  

Grace, Selena, was a mixture of both her serious step sister and her fun, live in the moment best friend. I think she did a great job and I can not wait to see her more on the big screen. In this movie she also got to play someone else. Cordelia, the snobby heiress, and it was a blast seeing her like that. Totally different for her and I love that. Seeing our favorites doing the not usual is always fun. 

In a way Meg, played by Leighton Meester, was grace's ugly step sister in her eyes. They didn't get along very well. Water and oil, is the saying. So, when she gets dragged into the vacation you know they butt heads a bit. However, not as much as Meg and her best friend, Emma. Meg is honest, maybe a bit to honest, but as the movie goes and she starts to see through a different pair of eyes, she'll start to grow on you.

Emma, played by Katie Cassidy, was fun. She was, like, the comic relief of the movie. She has a southern accent which is very entertaining. Yes, they're from texas but sorry guys not many have the southern accent. Which kind of blows, since you know, they're from there.

But that little bit doesn't take anything away from this pleasurable movie. The romances are sweet and you can't help but root for them. And Grace fools everybody but one person can see through this little act. Yet, the conclusion she comes up with, is actually quite funny in my eyes. Very clever too!

Overall, this movie is great for everybody. If you just want to get taken away, put into another country and fall in love then this is a movie you need. A movie for hope, romance, and change. Also, the ending was a love/hate for me. Becuase I was so into the movie I screamed, "No, it can't end there. It just can't". LoL, I wanted more and that little stunt of mine most definitely made Tasha laugh.

For being one of those relaxing, amazing, spirit raising movies that get to everybodies heart.

Happy Viewing Everybody!